Claimed By The Biker King

Chapter 3

Rhea

I had only been here for an hour, but I was already bored to the bone.

One minute I was angry and reckless, and the next, I had followed a complete stranger into his world.

Honestly, I still didn’t know if coming with him was a smart decision or the dumbest thing I had ever made in my life.

But maybe I’d decide whether to regret it after seeing what this place was really about.

A knock came on the door, snapping me out of my thoughts.

It better be him.

I got off the bed, walked over, and pulled the door open only to see someone different. He was as tall as him with tattoos covering almost all his arms like a second skin. His face looked somehow familiar.

"Um...Who...." I trailed off not bothering to hide the suspicion in my voice.

"Hi," he said stepping inside the room as if I had given him the permission.

"Hi," I replied in a not so convinced tone. Is this how people behave around here. First it was him and now this one.

"I heard my brother brought in a guest. So I came to see for myself."

Wait....Brother? So... he has a brother.

Great. That justified why I found his face familiar. This is a bit of resemblance. I didn't resist rolling my eyes.

He stretched out his hand, a smile sitting easily on his face. "I'm Luke."

My gaze dropped to his hand, then slowly moved back up to his face.

"Rhea," I said, forcing a small smile as I shook his hands.

His eyes lingered on me and for some reason I didn't like it. He let go after a second and slipped his hand right back into his pocket.

"Nice name," he said, nodding. "I run a good part of things around here. Ryan and I handle the club, but I'm the one in charge of the racing side. Riders, events, all of that."

Oh.

"You can say I am the face of this club," he added with a small grin. "I win. Three races back-to-back. No one's come close since. Last one? I was already done before the others even hit the final turn."

He let out a short laugh, clearly impressed with himself.

"Ryan handles the strict side of things," he went on. "But me? I make sure this place actually runs. Without me, there's no crowd, no wins, no name."

I smiled through gritted teeth. Something about the way he talked didn't sit right with me. Maybe it was the way he was boasting about himself within three minutes of standing in front of me. Maybe it was how easily he said it, like he expected me to be impressed.

I wasn't.

"That's... impressive," I said instead.

His grin widened.

I studied him for a second longer. He liked being seen. Liked being praised. Liked attention.

And that gave me an idea. Maybe I could use that. If he wanted to impress me so badly... then getting him to take me out of here wouldn't be hard. Besides I was bored to the bone.

I tilted my head slightly, letting curiosity show just enough. "So if you're that good, why don't you show me? I could learn one or two things.”

Luke straightened, his confidence kicking right back in.

"Yeah," he said, smiling. "You definitely need to get out of here."

Exactly.

"I'll show you around," he added. "You'll like it."

I nodded, hiding the small satisfaction settling inside me.

Perfect. That was all I needed.

The moment I stepped outside, I felt the difference. Luke walked beside me, saying something I wasn't really paying attention to. My focus had already shifted.

Bikes were everywhere. Engines revving, tools clanking, men moving around with purpose. Some were fixing parts, others were already riding, speeding across the open space like they owned the ground beneath them.

My eyes followed one rider as he leaned into a turn, smooth and controlled.

"First time seeing something like this?" Luke asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I folded my arms across my chest.

"Not really. It's just been a while."

The first time I rode a bike was when I was twelve. My father had taken me out a few weeks after my mother's death. He said I needed to breathe again... to feel something other than grief. And honestly, I did feel better.

But now, those memories didn't feel warm anymore. They were clouded with resentment and anger.

"...we've got a tournament coming up," Luke was saying. "Everyone you see here? They're preparing for it."

"Looks serious."

"It is," he replied. "Timing, control, discipline... one mistake and you're out."

That, at least, sounded real. I looked back at the track, watching another bike shoot forward.

"So this is where all the action is."

"Exactly."

I tilted my head. "Then standing here feels like a waste."

"What do you mean?" He lifted a brow.

"I mean watching from here isn't the same thing," I said simply.

Luke lifted a brow. "Do you know how to ride a bike?"

A small smile touched my lips. Maybe I should touch his ego a little bit and show him exactly how it's don.

I shrugged in response. And Luke opened his mouth as if he was about to say something when a voice interrupted.

"And what is going on here?"

I turned to find Ryan. He had his hands stuffed in his pockets as he walked toward us, looking all bold and annoyingly confident. With that alluring eyes of his.

I quickly averted my gaze realizing I was starting to stare too much.

One is arrogant and too proud of himself while the other likes attention and boast too much. What a brothers.

"And who gave you permission to bring her out here Luke?" he asked his brother.

My head snapped towards him in almost anger.

"Excuse me. Do you expect me to stay locked up in that room the whole day?"

"You were there for a reason," he said flatly.

A dry laugh left my lips.

Of course he would say that. Because in his head, I was just something to be kept in place, controlled, managed.

"Of course I was there for a reason," I said, my voice tightening. "But that doesn't mean I should be treated like a prisoner."

"Chill, bro," Luke cut in. "I just brought her out to look around. She's been in there since yesterday. And she seems like she knows one or two things about bikes."

Ryan didn't look impressed. Not even slightly.

His eyes came back to me.

That look again. That same dismissive, almost insulting look, like I was something small he had already decided wasn't worth his time.

"Don't look at me like that. I know more bikes more than you could think."

His brow lifted slightly. "Oh?" he said with a smile or rather a smirk. And if that didn't make me annoyed. "So someone like you rides bikes now?"

Someone like me?

My irritation exploded. He didn't know me. Didn't know anything about me. And yet he is judging my capabilities.

"Yes," I said through my teeth, stepping forward slightly. "I do."

I held his gaze.

"Or are you scared I might actually be better than your riders?"

Luke blinked beside us.

"Let's make a deal." I offered.

His gaze sharpened immediately, while Luke's eyes widened a little.

"If I win," I said slowly, with a vicious smile, "I get to be part of this team."